Stabilizer for microwave oscillators



w. D. HERSHB'ERGER s'rABILIzER' FOR MICROWAVE osCILm'roRs Filed Aug. 1, 1955 June 3,1-958 2,837,649 n srAnrLrznR Fon MICROWAVE oscrLLAroRs William D. Hershberger, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to The Regents of theUniversty of California, Berkeley, Calif., a corporation of California Application Augustr, 195s, serial No. 525,625

s claims. (c1. 25o- 36) This invention relates to stabilizing the frequencies of oscillation generators operating in the microwave region, where `direct stabilization by means of such well known controls as piezoelectric crystals is impractical and Where the amount of frequency multiplication (or division) required to use such crystals indirectly is so `great as to make these expedients also impractical if conventional 'methods are employed.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide means and methods for stabilizing microwave oscillators with substantially the same percentage accuracy as can be accomplished in lower frequency ranges by the direct use of piezoelectric crystals; to provide means and methods for effectively multiplying the frequency upon which a conventional crystal will stabilize an oscillator by factors of over two orders of magnitude at a single step; to provide means for stabilizing frequencies of` suchoscil- 'lators as klystrons and traveling wave tubes, which are sensitive to variationsin supply voltages, bias voltages, or both; vto provide means for multiplying the frequency at which a given piezoelectric crystal or like device can effect a control of an oscillator by a factor which is` xed and absolute; and to provide apparatus for the above purposes which is relatively simple, rugged, and easy to maintain.

It is now well known that paramagnetic substances, when subjected to a magnetic field, will resonate to and absorb electromagnetic waves over a narrow band of frequencies "or line, the center frequency whereof is directly proportional toV the strength of the magnetic field to which they are subjected. Under other circumstances, if the same substances are subjected to a sudden change in the direction of the magnetic field, they will radiate electromagnetic waves ofthe lsame frequencies which they absorb under the conditions iirst mentioned. These eiects are attributable to spins of the fundamental particles of which the atoms 'or molecules entering into the substances are composed. The paramagnetic substances are those wherein such spins are not counterbalanced by equal and opposite spins vin other particles entering into the substance. When subjected to a magnetic iield these paramagnetic materials develop a magnetic moment in the direction of the field and due to their spins there is associated with the magnetic moment an angular momentum which results in a precession around their new equilibrium position when the direction of the eld is changed and the resulting radiation'of electromagnetic waves Vat the frequency of the precession; conversely, velectromagnetic Awaves are absorbed bythe particles in inducing alike precession when the 4substances are ina polarizing field.

Both of these phenomena have been used in iluxmeters or magnetometers which are commercially available. The Pound magnetometer described in the Review of Scientific Instruments, 2l, 219-225 (1950) uses the absorption phenomenon. A feebly oscillating oscillator is connected to a probe containing a coil at right angles to the magnetic field, the coil surrounding a sample of the paramagnetic material used. The eld in which the probe is mounted is varied'through a narrow range on each side of the 2,837,649 Patented June 3, 1958 2 v main eld to be measured, and as the eld is swept through the value at which the sample exhibits a line of gyromagf netic resonance the amplitude of the oscillation is v.dercreased because of the absorption load imposedupon the oscillator. The result is a pulse of downward modulation in the amplifier output, which can be amplied and'detected. In the Varian-Bloch iluxmeter, (U.` S. Patents Nos. 2,561,489 and 2,561,490) the reverse phenomenon is employed and a pulse of oscillations is generated as the ield is passed through the resonant value; The line widt of the resulting modulations, upward instead of downward in the case of the Bloch device, is deiined as the width ofV the frequency band between the half-power points. The shape of the pulse in either case is substantially that of the familiar resonance curve. As the emission and absorption lines are identical in frequenciesit will be convenient to refer to them herein as the absorption lines of the materials used. Y

A given material may exhibit a number of absorption lines, depending on the nature of the particle exhibiting the spin. Certain materials having a large concentration of free electrons, such as tris-p-nitro-phenyl-methyl or diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl; in such materials the absorption line is very nearly that of the free electron. In this case the center frequency of the'r'esonant line is defined Yby the equation:

41rc where g,a is the gyromagnetic constant of the-particular Equation 1 i material, e/m is the ratio of charge to mass of the electron and cis the speed of light. For the hydra'zyl compound mentioned above, g=2,0036. 'Equation l may be simplied by combiningthe constants to read: j j

:ff-LFI Equation k being deinedas the gyromagnetic ratio of the electrons in the material used.

In other materials (ore even in the same material)v an absorption line may be due to unbalanced spins within the nuclei of the atoms. In this case the center frequency where g,n is the gyromagnetic constant of the nucleus, e/M

is the ratio of charge to mass of the nucleus and K is the Y nuclear gyromagnetic ratio. Water exhibits a strong absorption line due to the protons forming the nucleirof the Ihydrogen atoms in the compound, at frequencies defined by fp, determined by substituting gp, the gyromagnetic constant of the proton in Equation 3 above. 7 7

It will be seen from the form of the equations given that the frequencies fe and fn bear a constant ratio, each` varying linearly with the value of the field H.

In the case of the electron absorption line of hydrazyl and the proton line of mineral oil this ratio is: v

Equation 4 generator. The sample having the nuclear absorption line is mounted within theprobeof a gyromagnetic-type fluxineter, which is tuned, preferably by means of a piezoelectric crystal, to a frequency which bears to the desired `oscillatorlfrequency the ratio fe/fn. As the varying mag- 'netic eld passes through the value of H which will impart to the sample in the resonator a resonant frequency equal to that being developed by the generator to be stalbilized, there is produced a pulse of downward modulation" within a resonator. The latter is coupled to a detectorwhich converts the modulation' into a unidirectional pulse. This is amplified and supplied to a phase discriminator' (phase-sensitive or coincidence detector). As the magnetic eld passes through the frequency to which the uxmeter is tuned, the latter also develops a pulse of modulation which is. similarly detected and amplified and fedto the phase discriminator for comparison with the pulse from the resonator. If the generator to be controlled is operating at precisely the desired frequency theY two pulses will occur at the same instant and there will be no output from the phase discriminator. If, however, the generator is a little off frequency, the pulses will not be simultaneous. Assuming the magnetic field is decreasing and the frequency of the generator is too high, the pulse delivered by the sample having the electron absorption line will occur before that from the fiuxmeter and the discriminator will develop a voltage of one sign, Whereas if the frequency of the generator is too low this pulse will come later in the cycle than that of the uxmeter and the voltage developed by the discriminator will be'of the opposite sign.V The voltage pulses from the discriminator are integrated and are applied back to the generator in such phase as to correct its deviation from the desired'value.

Theaccompanying drawing is a diagram, partly inV block and partly in schematic form, of a preferred embodiment of the invention as used to stabilize Vthe frequency of an oscillator of the klystron type. From this diagram, together with a detailed description of the apparatus illustrated which follows, the application of the invention to other types of generators, operating at the same or other frequencies, should be evident.

In the diagram, the generator to be stabilized is indicated as' a klystron 1. Thisl is shown' in highly symbolic and simplified form as comprising an envelope 3 containing a cathode'S, a cavity resonator 7, and a reflector 9, the other elements being omitted to simplify the drawing. The resonator Iis shown as being maintained at a potential positive to the cathode by means of a battery or other source 11. The refiector is indicated as maintained slightly negative to the cathode by a battery 13. The frequency of the oscillator can be varied by changing the potential of the .reflector electrode, which alters the transit time of the electrons passing through the cavity and returning. Since klystrons are well understood and the klystron circuit itselfis no part of the invention other details of the arrangement are not shown.

The output of the oscillator is indicated as taken off through a coaxial cable that is coupled to the resonant cavity, and that feeds a load, not shown.

-For purposes of illustration it is assumed that the desired frequency of the oscillator lies within the 3 cm. X-band in the neighborhood of 10,000 mc.; specifically, the assumed frequency of the oscillatorl is 9400 mc.

A branch line, taken off from the line 15, feeds, through a resistor 19 and coaxial cable 21, into a cavity resonator 23. This resonator may, for example, be a section of y waveguide, closed at both ends, and tuned to the 9400 mc.

frequency. The line 21 couples into the resonator by means of an antenna 25. The resonator extends between pole pieces 27n and 27 of a magnet, the body of whichis omitted from the drawing for simplicity. Within the end of the resonant cavity and centered in the field of the magnet is a sample 30 of paramagnetic substance having a well defined electron absorption line, assumed, in this case, to be the hydrazyl compound, the gyromagnetic constant of which was given above, i. e., 2.0036.

Substituting the generator frequency 9400 for fe in Equation l, we find for H the value 3350.1 gauss, and the mean field between the magnet poles 27n and 27s is adjusted to approximately this value. An exact adjustment is desirable but not necessary; an approximate adjustment will do.

lt is assumed for purposes of illustration that an electromagnet is used to develop the polarizing eld and that the constant eld is established by means of a source 29 supplying a winding 31. In addition a second winding 33 is supplied by a s'awtooth generator 35 which varies the resultant field between the pole pieces'above and below its mean value through a range of perhaps 25 gauss. 'As' the field varies through this range it will pass through a point where the frequency je isV equal to the frequency instantaneously supplied by the generator 1. As it does so, the sample absorbs the energy within the resonator 23, instantaneously decreasing the intensity of the fields within it and producing a pulse of downward modulation. A second antenna 35 connects through a coaxial line 37 to a detector circuit comprising a crystal rectifier 39 in series with a resistor 41 and bridged by a small condenser 43. This converts the pulse of modulation to a unidirectional pulse which is` fed into an amplifier 45.

The amplified pulses are supplied to a discriminator generally identified by the reference character 47, as will be later described.

The probe 49 of a fluxmeter 51 is also inserted in the gap between the pole pieces of the magnet so that a sample 53 of paramag'ne'tie material within the probe is subjected tothe same varying field as the sample 3e. In the equipment shown fiuxmete'r 51 is assumed to be ofthe Pound type. It is slightly modified from theV commercial form, however, in that the Helmholtz coils normally used in meters `of this type to supply the superposed variation on the' field to be measured are omitted or disconnected, the variations being supplied by the coils 33 in the sawtooth'generator circuit. Further, the oscillator', normally included in fluxmeters of this type,is stabilized by a crystal 55. The sample 53 used in the instrument here described is water andthe absorption line used is the' proton absorption line. As has been shown above, the frequency ratio fe/fp of the electron absorption line of the sample 30 to the protron absorption line of the sample 53'is` 658.658 and accordingly crystal 55 is ground to the operating frequency of the generator 1 divided by this ratio il e.,

The absorption in the sample 53modulates this frequency downwardras the field strength H of the magnet passes through the appropriate value to give an absorption line atl this frequency. The output of the oscillator 54 is amplified in amplifier 57, detectedV in the conventional detector circuit 59, to producen unidirectional pulse, and then reamplified in amplifier 61 at low'frequency.

From amplifier 61 the pulse passes to a differentiating network indicated as a series condenserV 63 and shunt resistor' 65 that convert it into the familiar bidirectional pulse resulting from such differentiation, this latter pulse crossing the zero voltage point at the instant ofthe maximum of the unidirectional pulse from which it is derived. From this point it passes to phase discriminator 47. It shouldbenoted' thatit makes no realdiferenc'e whether `the differentiating network thelluxmeter or the amplifier 45, either will give the same l result as long as the output of the phase discriminator is is connected in the outputof properly poled.A y Y The differentiating network connects to the phase discriminator through a pairv of condensers 67. The discriminator comprises a center-tapped shunt resistor 69 followed by a pair of diode rectifiers, 71 and 73 which may be either the `tubel or contact type, similarly poled, one in each lead. Asecond center-tapped shunt resistor 75 connects' across' the rectifier outputs, and is shunted by a condenser 77. Leads from the amplifier 45 connect to thef'center taps of resistors 69 and 73, the connections being poled so thatthe rectifiers passthe unidirectional pulses from vthe amplifier. A lead 79 connects'from one side'of the resistor v75 to the cathode 5 of the klystron, anda second lead 81 connects, through the ybiasing battery 13, from the Aother end rof resistorr 75 to the reflector f electrode 9 of the' klystrom'so that the voltage developed across the phase discriminator addsor subtracts-from the refiector bias, depending upon whether the pulse from the generator leads or lags that from the fiuxmeter.

i 'Ihe connections are suchl that if the generator pulse leads, andthe sawtooth wave from the generator is such ythat the magnetic 'eld increasesduring the long slope of the cyclefindicating that the frequency of the generator is too low), the negative bias on the connector 9 is increased. The electrons of the beam are thus reflected thfgyromagnetic ratios corresponding to the absorption linesfof Vthe samples ,29 and 63 ,are known andwto the yaccuracy ofl the crystal control of the liuxmeter. At present the latter factor can be. controlled to a greater degree of accuracy than the other factors, since crystal oscillators can, with suitable precautions, be maintained stable to withinl one part in-lOG'or 1 0'1or even better. 4The gyroma'gnetic ratios ofV the lvarious lines which might be usedl in carrying out the present invention are not,

It is not necessary, however, that the nuclear and electron gyromagnetic ratios themselves be known exactly for the materials employed. It is the ratio of the gyromagnetic ratios which is important. This can be measured at low frequency and the crystal oscillator ground to the proper value for its intended application.

. .In addition to the substitutions of materials to obtain netic field passes through a resonance point. If a sawi i tooth wave is used the pulse generated on the yback is so short and carries so little energy that its effect is negligible. If a symmetrical waveform is used, such as a sine wave, the pulse which leads inthe positive-going swing will lagon the negative-going swing and therefore a simple discriminator such as that shown' in the figure will not develop a corrective error-voltage. Accordingly, if a sine wave or other symmetrical wave is used for scanning i't becomes necessaryto provide more complex circuitry; e. g., means operating synchronously with the scanning voltage for switching the modulating pulses into'separate discriminators and combining their outputs additively in the proper direction to supply the requisite error-voltage. Ordinarily this merely means unnecessary complication of apparatus. n

",The frequency of the scanning generator 35 isvnot particularly important. VOrdinarily it will lie in the lower audio frequencies, say in the neighborhood of 2.5043070 cycles per second. The lower the frequency the greater in general, known with the same degree of accuracy, i

althoughthose which have been here specified, i. e., the electron absorption line of such materials as the hydrazyl andthe proton absorption line of the hydrogen atom,` in

Y oil, water, or other hydrogen-rich, compound, wherein its gyromagnetic rate is known, maygivezthe. invention an accuracy4 of approximately one partinlO6 where these materials'jare used. It should be obvious .that the` narrower and more pronouncedtthe lines used, the greater will-be the accuracy of the apparatus. Lines attributable to heavier nuclei are-in general-weaker and less' clearly defined, although, if used, they, will give higher multiplication factors. The nuclear gyromagnetic ratios of dutcrium and lithium, for example, will give` multiplication factors, respectively, of approximately two and three times that'of the proton absorption line. Furthermore, the electron gyromagnetic ratio is affected slightly by the orbital motions of electrons in the various paramagnetic compounds used', and the electron gyromagnetic ratios of the tron absorption line it is even possible to makethe sample purely electronicby injecting a stream of electrons into a vacuum tubeinfthe field, in which case the'1 gyromagnetic constantis `2 instead of a slightlyflargrernumber.

will be Vthe energy represented by each pulse, but the higher the frequency the greater the number of pulses, .and hence the total available energy for supplying the errorvoltage remainsapproximately' the same. The higher the freqnenoy kthe more responsive the device is to short time variations of frequencies'ofwthe generator, butV the frequencies suggested offer sufficiently short delay forsubstantially all applications, A i

Theconstant component ofjthernagnetic field between the pole pieces 27,u and 27s may lbe' supplied by a permanent magnet equallyl as vwell asV `by an electromagnety if the desired frequency of the generator is never varied.

Using a permanent magnet some `minorvariationsin field intensity are ypossible byfadding a direct component to the saw-tooth scanning current. If an electromagnetis used the same winding, or part of the same winding, can be used'tocarrythe varying component as well as the constantlfield component...

' It has aheadybeen mentioned that it is not necessary thatthe constant component be exactly that required td establish the nuclear absorption line of the sample 53 and the electron absorption linevof the. sample 49 at their desired values, as long as the field swingsJon both sides of the correct value; if an electromagnet is used the fiuxmeter 51 can be used for its ordinary purpose to setrthe constant field at its exact theoretical value, and the same canfbe done if a bias current is superposed upon the scan-l nators arel known Vin the art. The use of the Bloch type` of fiuxmeter instead of the Pound typehas alread'y'been referred to. f i,

It has also been mentioned that'the device' is' applicable escrime toother typesv of lgertera'to'r than the klystron type illustr'ated.r Substantially all such generators as. .a1-e :adapted to operate in .the microwave range are voltage-sensitive to more or less degree4` so far as their frequency Vof operation is-concerned. Where this is the case it is only necessary to select the electrode with respect to which lthe change of voltage has Va maximum effect upon thefrequency and that imposes the smallest load'on the [phase discriminator.. In the klystron illustrated this is the reector electrode which, in theory at least, carries no current and yet where a change inpotential with respect to the cathode has the maximum effect upon the transit time of the electrons. and therefore the greatest effect 'upon Vthe frequencyof operation. l

Numerousother variations in the apparatus will-doubtless-.occur to those skilled in the art. .T he :precise form ofcapparatusshown` is therefore not intended to be limitingupon. the scope of the invention, all intended limitations being specifically set forth in the appended claims. vWhat is claimed is: Y t

1. Means for stabilizing the frequency of a generator ofelectricaloscillations in the microwave range comprising a resonator adaptedto be loosely coupled to said generator, a first sample of pararnagnetiernaterial of known gyromagnetic Yratio coupled to said resonator, means for establishing a. magnetic field through saidsample, said magneticlfield varying cyclically in strength through a relatively narrow range as compared to its average value,

kthe range of variation extending both above and below a value whereat said sample has an absorption line centered at the desired frequency of the generator to be stabilized so as to produce by absorption pulses of downward modulation in the oscillations within said resonator, a second sample of paramagnet'ic material so positioned as to lie within said magnetic field and having a nuclear gyromagnetioratio such as to produce therein an absorption line .at ajlfnown fraction vof the frequency of that of said first sample of paramagnetic material,v flukmeter means coupledto said second'sample ofparamagnetic material and adapted to produce a pulse of modulation of oscillations of said known fraction of the desired Vfrequency of'lsaid generator as said magnefic'eld passes through the rvalue corresponding thereto, means forV detecting the pulses developed by'said'iirs'ts'aniple top'roduce unidirectional pulses, means for detecting the' pulses developed by-said s'cond'sarnple also't'o produce unidirectional pulses, means for comparing the relative time'sequence ofthe detected pullses'ineach cycle of variation of said magnetic field and developing therefrom aj voltage kdepending i'n'polarity vupcn'r the jorder 'of 'succession of the pulses within'each 'cycleand'in'jmagnitude upon the' interval between them, andmeans for applying the voltage so` developed to said generator in suchsense as to so alter its frequency as to ted to bring saidV pulses into coincidence.

2. Means for stabilizing the lfr'eqliency ofa generator of electrical oscillations in'lthe lmicrowave range comprising a resonator adapted` to belloosely coupled to' said generator, a first sample of paramagnetic materialV of known gyromagnetic ratiov coupled to said resonator, means for establish-ing through said-first sample a substantially constant magnetic field-of approximately the strength required to'produce' 'therein an absorption `line at the desired frequency ofs'aid'generator, means for superposing on said field' a cyclically varying alternating magnetic eld of relatively low strength as compared-to said constant field, a secondes-ample of vparar'r'lagrietic material so positioned as to'lie withinsaid magnetic Vfields and having a nuclear' gyromagnetic ratio such as to produce therein an absorptionline at-a known fraction of the frequency of the absorption 3line of said first sample, fluxmeter means coupled tosaid second sample and adaptedk to 'produce a pulse of'mo'dulation ofoscillations of saidknownfractio'n 'of the desired Vfrequency of said generator as' said super'- posed magnetic elds pass through the value corresponding thereto, niea'sfo detectingY the pulses-V developed from said first sample' to producen first set of unidirectional pulses, means'for detecting the kpulses developed by ysaidsecond sampl'eto producea Second set of unidirectional pulses, means for comparing the relative time sequence of the detected pulses in each cycle of variation ot" said Acyclically varying magnetic field and developing therefrom' avoltage depending in polarity upon the order in which the pulses of said first and second sets occur and in magnitude on the interval between them, and means for applying` said voltagcrto said generator in such scnsc as to alter its frequcncy so as to tend to bring said pulses into coincidence. l v

. A3. Apparatus as definedl in claim 2 wherein said means :for ysuperposng a cyclically varied alternating magnetic `field is adapted to produce a field of sawtooth waveform.

4. Means for stabilizing `the frequency of a generator of electrical oscillations in the microwave range comprising a resonator adapted to be loosely- Coupled to said generator, a first sample of paramagneticmaterial of known gyromagncticA ratio coupled to saidfrcsonator, means for establishing `a magnetic field through said sample, said magnetic field varying cyclically in strength through a relatively narrow range as compared to its average value andthe-range of variationcrtcnding both above .and below a valu-e whercat said sample has an absorption line centered at the dc'siiiedfrequency of vthe` generator to be stabilized, thereby'to' 'produce by absorption pulses of downward modulation. in the oscillations within said sample, a second sampleof paramagnctic material positioned to lic within said magnetic fiel and'having a nuclear gyrornagnetic ratio such as to produce therein an absorption line at a known fraction of the frequency of the absorption line of said first sample, an oscillator connected to supply said second sample as a load and stabilized to supply a constant frequency of said known fraction of the desired frequency of' said generator', whereby said oscillator is modulated toproducc a pulse of downward modulation when said'magnetic field passes through the corresponding value.' means for detecting ytheV pulses developed by said first sample to produce vati'rstysct ofunidirectional pulses', means for'detecting the pulses developed by said second sample to" produce a second set of unidirectional pulsesLmeansfor comparing the'relative time sequence of the detected pulses in each cyclc'of variation of said magncticfield and developing'therefrom a voltage depending in polarity upon'the order of said pulses vwithin each cycle and in magnitude von, the interval `between their., and means for applying said voltage to said generator in such ySense as to alter its frequency so as to tend to bring-said pulses into'c'oincidence/ 5.v Means forA stabilizing the frequency lof a generator of electrical oscillations inthe microwave rangecornprising the combination'offalresonator adapted tolbeloosely coupled. -to said generator, a first sample of parama'gnetic material of -ltnown gyromagnetic ratio. coupled'to said fesor'l'ator, means for establishing throughrsaid sample a `magnetic fieldvarying cyclically'in strength'through a relatively narrow range' as compared 'to its average value, the-range of variation extending both above andV below a value whereatV said-sample has an absorption line ceutered at thedesired. frequency of the generator to bc stabilized,. thereby to produce by absorption pulses of downward modulation in the oscillation within said resonator, a secondrsample of paramagnetic material positioned within said magnetic field and having a nuclear gyromagnetic ratio such as to produce therein an absorption line at a known fraction of the frequency of the absorption liuc of said rst sample, fluxrncter means coupled to saidsecond samplerand adaptedto produce a pulse o'f-V modulation of oscillations of said known fraction of the desired frequency of said generator as said magnetic field passesy through the value corresponding thereto; vmeans `for detecting the pulses developed by said first Vsample' to produceal first. set of unidirectional pulses; rean's' for 'detectiirgrhe pulses'neveieped by' said 'second 9 sample to produce a second set of unidirectional pulses, means for differentiating the pulses of one of said sets to produce bidirectional pulses, a phase-sensitive detector connected to compare the pulses of the other of said sets of unidirectional pulses with said bidirectional pulses to develop a Voltage dependent in sign on the frequency l@ thereof and in magnitude upon the interval between them, and means for applying said voltage to said generator in such sense as to bring said vets of unidirectional pulses into substantial coincidence.

No references cited. 

